Dispenser with detachable retention feature

Abstract

A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.

1. A package, comprising:
 a plurality of similarly dimensioned and substantially cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a plurality of rows wherein the endmost article in each of said plurality of rows defines an endmost column of articles, each of said articles having a diameter; and 
 a carton enclosing said articles, said carton comprising:
 a first wall extending along ends of said articles in each of said rows; 
 a second wall hingedly connected to said first wall along a first fold line and extending along the sides of the articles in said endmost column; and 
 a detachable portion detachably formed at least in part from said first wall and said second wall, said detachable portion defined in part by a frangible line, said detachable portion to be detached from said carton to define an opening, said frangible line extending from a first point on said first fold line to a second point on said first wall that is spaced apart from said second wall by a distance that is no less than said diameter, said frangible line further extending from said second point to a third point on said first fold line. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the articles adjacent to said endmost column of articles define a second endmost column of articles; and 
 said opening exposes at least a portion of an end of at least one of said articles disposed in said second endmost column. 
 
   
   
     3. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the segment of said frangible line that extends across said first wall is spaced apart from all walls of said carton connected to said first wall other than said second wall. 
   
   
     4. The package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said carton further comprises a third wall and a fourth wall, each of said third wall and said fourth wall being hingedly connected to one of opposing edges of said first wall and to one of opposing edges of said second wall; and 
 the one of said first point and said third point that is nearest said third wall is spaced apart from said third wall by a distance that is less than said diameter. 
 
   
   
     5. The package of  claim 4 , wherein the one of said first point and said third point that is nearest said fourth wall is spaced apart from said fourth wall by a distance that is less than said diameter. 
   
   
     6. The package of  claim 4 , wherein the one of said first point and said third point that is furthest from said third wall is spaced apart from said third wall by a distance that is no less than said diameter. 
   
   
     7. The package of  claim 5 , wherein said third wall is a top wall and said fourth wall is a bottom wall. 
   
   
     8. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between said first point and said third point is no less than said diameter. 
   
   
     9. A package, comprising:
 a plurality of similarly dimensioned and substantially cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a plurality of rows, each of said articles having a diameter; and 
 a carton enclosing said articles, the carton comprising:
 a first wall extending along ends of said articles in each of said rows; 
 a second wall hingedly connected to said first wall and extending along the sides of the endmost articles in each of said rows; 
 
 a severance line, comprising:
 an upper segment and a lower segment in said second wall; and 
 a connecting segment in said first wall, said connecting segment interconnecting said upper segment and said lower segment; 
 
 wherein:
 said connecting segment extends along said first wall to a distance from said second wall that is no less than said diameter. 
 
 
   
   
     10. The package of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the endmost article in each of said plurality of rows is in an endmost column of articles; 
 the articles adjacent to said endmost column of articles are in a second endmost column of articles; and 
 said connecting segment defines a detachable portion of said carton, said detachable portion to be removed to form an opening that extends along said first wall, said opening exposing at least a portion of an end of one of said articles in said second endmost column. 
 
   
   
     11. The package of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said carton further comprises a third wall and a fourth wall, said third wall and said fourth wall each hingedly connected to opposing edges of said first wall and to opposing edges of said second wall; and 
 at the hinged connection between said first wall and said second wall, said upper segment is spaced apart from said third wall by less than said diameter. 
 
   
   
     12. The package of  claim 11 , wherein, at the hinged connection between said first wall and said second wall, said lower segment is spaced apart from said fourth wall by less than said diameter.